Hydraulic ball cock valve



E. L. CROCKETT HYDRAULIC BALL COCK VALVE Get 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1951 INVENTOR E. L. CROCKETT ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1954 E. CROCKETT 2,692,610

HYDRAULIC BALL COCK VALVE Filed Aug.

FIG. 5.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7.

A INVENTOR E. L. CROCKETT BY WWULM'M ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to float operated valve mechanism for toilet flush tanks.

Important objects of the invention are to provide a float operated valve mechanism to be mounted upon the bottom of the flush tank, thus eliminating considerable noise and simplifying the construction; to provide a construction wherein the float is arranged directly above the valve element and arranged for eliminating the usual compound lever working parts; to provide means whereby the rocking of the float will serve to positively unseat the valve element in addition to the downward action of the float; to provide a floating element or pin within the contracted port or vent of the pilot valve for preventing clogging of such port or vent; to provide a compressible valve seat to engage with the valve element and also to engage with the pilot valve; to provide a valve mechanism which is positive in operation, will have a long life, may be operated by a small float, is characterized by simplicity of working parts, is cheap to manufacture, and easy to repair or take apart.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a float controlled valve mechanism embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 3a is a side elevation of the device applied to a flush tank, parts in section,

Figure 4a is a horizontal section taken on line 4a4a of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention,

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4, and,

Figure '7 is a horizontal section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 5.

In the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a vertical cylindrical casing provided at its bottom with a web II, having a horizontal flange 52 formed integral therewith and projecting radially beyond the web II. Formed integral with the web II and projecting below it, is an exteriorly threaded tubular nipple I3, to be passed through an opening in the bottom of the flush tank I4 and to be held in place by a nut I5. The tubular nipple extends below the bottom of the flush tank It for connection with the water supply pipe by any suitable means. The casing IE is provided in its sides and adjacent to the flange 12 with diametrically oppositely arranged openings I6 which discharge into the tank Id. The casing 48 is also provided in its side and between the openings It with a tubular coupling It, the bore of which leads to the interior of the casing It. A pipe I8 is connected with the tubular coupling I7. A cap-nut I 9 has screw-threaded engagement with the top of the casing ID and has a water tight connection therewith. This cap-nut has a central opening 20 formed therein and this opening receives a vertical guide tube BI, the lower end of which may have a press fit within the opening 20. This guide tube may be provided with openings 22 near and above the cap-nut I 9.

A washer 23, which may be formed of rubberor the like, is arranged within the top of the vertical casing I0 and contacts with the capnut 59 and is secured thereto by cement or other suitable means. This washer serves as a resilient seat for valve or valves. The washer 23 has a central opening 2 3, smaller than the bore of the guide tube 21 and leading into this guide tube. The opening 24 is covered and uncovered by a valve element 25, having a flat face which contacts with the seat or washer 23. The valve element 25 is rigidly secured to a vertical rod 25 which extends through the opening 24 and is of smaller diameter than the opening 24 and also extends through and above the guide tube 2| and has a considerably smaller diameter than this guide tube. At its upper end, the rod 26 is connected with a coupling 2?, which is rigidly secured to a vertical hollow float 28. The purpose of the guide tube 2i is to limit the downward movement of the float 28 when the water is discharged from the tank and since the rod 26 has a considerably smaller exterior diameter than the interior diameter of the guide tube 2|, the rod 26 and float 28 may move or tilt laterally due to the free lateral movement of the ball 28 upon the upper surface of the water when the water is under agitation during its discharge. The lateral movement or tilting of the rod 25, within the limits of the guide tube 2|, will positively unseat the valve element from seat 23 should it tend to stick, so that valve element 25 will be free to move downwardly with respect to the seat 23, when the float 28 descends.

Mounted to reciprocate within the casing I0 is a tubular pilot piston-valve 29 having a bore 30, open at its top. This bore is of larger diameter than the valve element 25 which enters the same when the piston-valve 29 moves to the end of its upstroke to engage against the seat 23. The lower end of the piston-valve 29 is closed and is provided with a tubular extension 3| formed integral therewith and this tubular extension is provided at its lower end with a flange or head 32. The tubular extension 3| has a resilient tubular valve element 33 mounted thereon. The tubular valve element 33 is formed of rubber or the like and is stretched over the head 32. The web II has a vertical opening or bore 34, receiving the head 32 which is of slightly smaller diameter than the bore 34. The tubular valve element has an exterior diameter larger than the bore 34 and larger than the flange 3'2 and the valve element 33 seats upon the top of the web II when the pilot piston-valve is in the lowermost position. The tubular extension 3| has a contracted bore or port 35, which communicates with the bore 34 and bore 30. This contracted port is permanently uncovered and receives a floating cleaning element or rod of wire 36, of smaller diameter than the bore 35 so that water can pass upwardly through the bore 35 exteriorly of the cleaning element 36. The ends of this cleaning element or rod 36 are flattened to provide stop heads 31, as shown. The piston-valve 29 may be provided upon its periphery with a groove 38 for receiving packing 39.

As shown in Figure 3a, the pipe |8 discharges into the upper end of the conventional vertical overflow pipe 40, which leads to the usual water outlet device 4|, beneath the flush valve element which is raised by a rod or wire 42 connected with a vertically swinging lever 43, in turn moved by an exterior hand crank 44.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the tank I4 is filled with water, the float 28 is at its high point and the valve element 25 is seated against the seat 23'. Water from the water supply pipe passes through bore 34, through bore 35 and through bore 30 to the top of the casing l and acts against the large face of the pilot piston-valve 29, holding it in the lowered position so that valve element 33 is seated and covers the outlet end of the bore 34. When the rod 42 is moved upwardly and the flush valve unseated and the water discharged from the tank, the float valve 28 instantly drops or moves downwardly and will partake of limited lateral or tilting movement. The valve element 25 will be unseated from the seat 23 and the water pressure above the pilot piston-valve 29 is now free to escape through opening 24, guide tube 2| and openings 22. The pressure of the water in the bore 34 acting upon the head 32 moves the piston-valve 29 upwardly, unseating valve element 33. The piston-valve 29 moves upwardly until it contacts with the seat 23 and the lower end of the piston-valve 29 then becomes substantially flush with the top of the openings H5. The water is free to discharge through bore 34 and openings |6 into the tank. The flush valve being again closed, the level of the water again rises in the tank I4 and the float 28 is elevated so that valve element 25 is seated. Water then passes through the bore 35 and the pressure upon the top of the piston-valve is restored and the piston-valve moved downwardly and the valve element 33 again covers the bore 34. The passage of the water through the bore 35 moves or agitates the cleaning element or rod 4 36 which prevents the bore 35 from becoming clogged.

In Figures 4 to '7 inclusive, I have shown a modification of the invention, wherein the easing I0 is provided at its bottom with an annular chamber 45, integral therewith. This chamber has a bottom 43, corresponding to the flange l2. The nipple I3 is integral with the bottom 46 and the same web is provided. The annular chamber 45 has a chamber extension 41, radially disposed and in communication with the interior of the chamber 45. This extension 41 serves as a coupling for one end of an inverted U-shaped pipe 43, the discharge end 49 of which is arranged adjacent to the bottom of the tank l4. A branch pipe 50 is connected with the pipe 48 and extends upwardly and has a down turned end 5| to be inserted within the upper end of the overflow pipe 40. All other parts of the device remain identical with those shown and described in connection with the first form of the invention, Figures 1 to 4a inclusive. The operation is the same, except that the water entering the tank l4 first discharges into the annular chamber 45, then through chamber extension 4'! and through pipe 48 to the bottom of the tank.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to. without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A float operated valve mechanism for toilet flush tanks, comprising an upstanding casing, said casing including a web at its bottom having a reduced inlet bore, a tubular nipple connected with the web and extending downwardly below the same to pass through an opening in the bottom of the tank, said casing having outlet opening means adjacent to the web, the upper end of the casing being open, a cap covering the upper open end of the casing and detachably secured thereto and having an opening formed therein, a compressible washer arranged within the top of the casing and secured to the cap and having an opening, said compressible washer having a lower substantially flat face, an upstanding tube held within the opening of the cap and of a substantial length and having its upper end terminating near the top level of the water in the tank, a rod extending through the upstanding tube and having a considerably smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the tube so that the rod may tilt within the tube due to the action of the water when the tank is flushed, a valve element secured to the lower end of the rod and having a substantially flat upper face to contact with the substantially lower face of the compressible Washer to close the opening in the washer, a float arranged above the rod in axial alignment therewith, a coupling element securing the float to the upper end of the rod, said coupling element being spaced a short distance from the upper end of the tube and movable downwardly to contact with the upper end of the tube so that the tube limits the downward movement of the float and valve element, a tubular piston valve slidable within the casing and provided at its lower end with a reduced tubular extension to enter the inlet bore of the web, and a compressible annular valve element mounted upon the reduced tubular extension and projecting radially beyond the same to contact with the upper face of the web to close the inlet bore of the web.

2. A float operated valve mechanism for toilet flush tanks, comprising an upstanding casing mounted upon the bottom of the flush tank, said casing including a Web at its bottom having a reduced inlet bore, a flange carried by the casing adjacent to the web and extending radially therefrom, a tubular nipple carried by the web and extending downwardly below the same to pass through an opening in the bottom of the tank, said casing having outlet opening means adjacent to said flange, the upper end of the casing being open, a cap covering the upper end of the casing and detachably secured thereto and having an opening formed therein, a compressible washer arranged within the top of the casing and secured to the cap and having an opening, an upstanding tube held within the opening of the cap, a rod extending through the upstanding tube and having a considerably smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the tube so that the rod may tilt within the tube due to the action of the water when the tank is flushed, a valve element secured to the lower end of the rod and having an upper face to contact with the lower face of the washer to close the opening in the washer, a float arranged above the rod in axial alignment therewith, a coupling element securing the float to the upper end of the rod, a tubular piston valve slidable within the casing and provided at its lower end with a reduced tubular extension to enter the inlet bore of the web, a compressible annular valve element mounted upon the reduced tubular extension and projecting radially beyond the same to contact with the upper face of the web to close the inlet bore of the web, and a cleaning rod mounted within the reduced tubular extension and having a diameter considerably less than the internal diameter of the bore of the tubular extension, said cleaning rod being provided at its ends with enlarged stops which are spaced apart a greater distance than the length of the tubular extension so that the cleaning rod is free to move longitudinally and laterally within the tubular extension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 164,645 Hadfield June 22, 1875 226,224 Demarest Apr. 16, 1880 453,997 Folger June 9, 1891 457,005 McNeil Aug. 4, 1891 581,373 Schmidt Apr. 27, 1897 691,400 Marscher Jan. 21, 1902 797,353 Goodfellow Aug. 15, 1905 926,400 Freaney June 29, 1909 1,160,441 Packer Nov. 16, 1915 1,477,916 Sikes et a1. Dec. 18, 1923 1,589,786 Bradshaw June 22, 1926 1,915,716 Bradshaw June 27, 1933 2,415,875 Greenwald Feb. 18, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,133 Great Britain 1867 

